Waltzing into Rad Bar, one cannot help but notice how cramped and low tech everything is, a true hallmark of those brilliant places where bands earn their reputations and eventually go on to ‘better’ things, and to yours truly, this is the best setting of them all to see high energy bands and their antics. For Rick Dangerous and the Silkie Bantams, antics is assuredly what you’ll see, but the supports also put on quite a show and made the night so much better.

Hailing from Grafton, The Stained Daisies showcased their brand of stoner garage rock with equal parts skill and modesty; the two vocalists shouting and crooning their way through the set whilst playing some truly inventive riffs and addictive bass lines. Sounding like a loose amalgam between Nirvana and Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats, the band put on a great show and played some enticing music, of which I’m sure will only get better with time and age.

Up next was another relatively young band, Skylerwhite, who from what I can tell, were seriously trying to deafen everyone through sheer volume. Their groovy style of hardcore punctuated by banter between the band members put a smile on my face but was honestly an odd choice to support. Regardless, the frontman wasted no time in clearing the room and shrieking in a voice that only angered youth and Soilwork are capable of, assailing the crowd with song after song of jocular aggression. Whilst not immediately indistinguishable from the plethora of hardcore bands, their energy was surely a standout: the frontman making full use of the stage (which also happens to be the whole floor of Rad) to jump around and punctuate the lyrics with the acrobatics of hardcore music.

At this point, the men in flawless white suites that had been milling around the bar decided to make a move to the stage, with the one and only white collar frontman in tow. Sipping on a tea and repositioning his glasses, Rick Dangerous screams into his microphone to signal the start of the spectacle, because that’s what it really is seeing this band, a spectacle. The first chord rings throughout the cramped bar and the thrusting begins. Thrusting? Yeah. That’s what I said.

Rick Dangerous wastes no time in turning the dial to 11 and pelvic thrusting, popping his heels (I think that’s a term) like there’s no tomorrow. Song ‘Thrust Machine’ actually offering the perfect chance to do just that. But that’s not all they offer. As the set progresses, it becomes quite clear that they are very proficient at what they do, melding brilliant moments of rock and roll with almost thrash like speed. Comedic lyrics aside, the vocal skills of Dangerous are quite simply astounding; confident, loud and super fucking cool.

Songs like ‘Bruja’ and ‘Powdered Sugar’ showcase exactly how energetic these guys can be, as some of the oddest dance moves ever to grace a stage are enacted for the crowd. Between songs, Dangerous throws his crafty witticisms at the crowd deriding their lack of participation and even goes so far to suggest that “a tidal wave of pussy mist” brought on by their last performance of ‘The General’ was the cause for the recent tumultuous weather. All of the imagery and persona traits of ‘Rick Dangerous’ make the performance so much more enjoyable than it has any right to be, and for that I’m eternally grateful.

The ‘Thrust Machine’ begins….

Despite the larger than life personality of their front man, the ‘Silkie Bantams’ portion of the band are to put it simply, great. The guitar work is more dynamic than initially thought and the drummer – perfect. The setting of the Rad Bar highlighted just how proficient the band is at their sound, as there is no room for fancy set ups, just the essentials, and that’s what makes Rick Dangerous and the Silkie Bantams so dang good. Every member does their job to the ’T’ and the performance is all the more better for it.

The night ended with brilliant closer ‘These Devil’s Bones’ which elicited the best response from the crowd so far, ending the evening on a superbly high note. The white suits, the repaired glasses, the tomfoolery, the headbangable riffs; it was all a grand time, very single aspect meshing wondrously well, delivering a package that is undeniably the perfect companion for any manner of thrusting that you wish, and will do, in the future.